Hall Ways Blog: Alice: The Wanderland Chronicles ~ Blog Tour Audio Excerpt & Review!

Alice: The Wanderland Chronicles (BK 1)

By J.M. Sullivan

Publication Date: August 2018
Publisher: Bleeding Ink Publishing

Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale Adaptations

Pages: 360

ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR QUEEN

Ever since the outbreak of the Plague, life hasn’t been easy, and for seventeen-year-old Alice Carroll, it just got worse. Her sister, Dinah, has contracted the ‘un-deadly’ Momerath Virus and without a cure, will soon be worse than dead. She’ll be momerath.

Alice must leave the safety of the Sector and venture into Momerath Territory to find the antidote - if it exists. Chasing a rumor about a mysterious doctor with the cure, Alice falls down the rabbit hole into Wanderland, where ravenous momerath aren’t the only danger lurking.

COMING AUGUST 2018!

LISTEN TO AN AUDIO EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER ONE!

HALL WAYS REVIEW: When I saw the fabulous cover of Alice: The Wanderland Chronicles, I was immediately drawn-in for the read. Finding out it was a reimagining of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland (but with zombie-like creatures), the deal was sealed. In this could-be-now world where a plague has horribly altered or wiped-out many humans, readers are in for a wild ride as main character Alice races the clock – and a white-haired doctor – as she navigates a ravaged Phoenix in search of an antidote.

Author J.M. Sullivan does a great job describing both Alice’s feelings as well as the setting, both which put readers right into the midst of the scenes as they unfold. With the vivid and detailed descriptions, it is easy to feel immersed in this dangerous, desperate world and to feel Alice’s fierce determination to overcome adversity from both man, woman, and monerath. I am proud of my active imagination and appreciate that Sullivan respects her readers and doesn’t get overly graphic with her descriptions of the battles or carnage. It is sufficiently gross, but not over-the-top, and never sugar-coated.

Another aspect I appreciate is that there isn’t any insta-love or love triangles or even much of a romance element. HOORAY! Alice is clearly interested and intrigued by two characters, as are they with her, but it's natural instead of rushed. If there's a sequel (and there should be since this one is called “Book One,”), I imagine readers will see these relationships continue to progress as they have so far -- where characters’ emotions evolve as they discover more about each other. Fingers crossed!

I like the science behind the origins of the monerath virus and how people and corporations often get so blinded they forget about humanity and the bigger picture. I could see how there could be a very interesting prequel or companion book, which would be a great way to fill in the significant plot holes and a way to explain some of the characters’ connections, gifts, and limitations.

Despite the book being categorized as a fairy tale retelling, I don't really see many parallels between Sullivan’s Wanderland Chronicles and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, and it's really not a re-imagining of that story. I enjoyed the references, quotations, and some of the clever names and personality traits that were inspired by Carroll’s AIW, though. Rather than a re-telling, readers familiar with Carroll’s AIW will smile and think of Sullivan’s Wanderland more in an "Oh, I see what you did there" kind of thing. It mostly works as a fun element though at times, it’s a little cheesy or cliché in an otherwise unique story. Happily, the book is very cleanly edited with just a few errors that caught my eye. This was almost as refreshing as the unique premise and plot.

“Returning library books might have been completely irrelevant,

but it gave her guilty conscience a reprieve.”

Library Bonus Points Awarded for the main character’s bookish tendencies, use of the library, and a most excellent library scene. (Yeah, readers know it’s coming but it’s still pretty awesome.) I love that despite their being in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, and that the library hasn't been functional in ages, Alice not only keeps reading, but she still returns the books she "borrows." Thank you to Unbound Book Tours for providing me an eBook copy in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give.

J.M. Sullivan is a science teacher by day and an author by night. Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. If you would like to connect with her for a healthy dose of sparkle, positivity, and a touch of crazy, you can find her on online!